Car-coupling.



S. P. BUSH.

CAR COUPLING.

-AEPLlcArloN FILED MAR. x1. 1916.-

Pamm mw. 4,1m'.

hmmm@ "entre are SAMUEL P. BUSH, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CAR-GOUPLING.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.. 4l, `1.917.

l Application filed Maren 17, 1916. Serial No. 84,919.

in car couplings, the object being to pro-` vide improved simple and effective means i for moving the locking block or pin to an unlocking or lock set position and for throwing theknuckle to an open position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of my improve- 9@ ment, the coupling being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the locking block lock set; Fic. 3 is a similar View showing the manner ofI openingthe knuckle, and Figs. 4 and 5 are views of modified forms. lin priordevices of this type no provision has been made for restoring the operating bar to its normal position after it has been released by the operator and this invention consists in means whereby the operating bar 39 will be returned to its normal position automatically after the operator has lock set the locking block or moved the knuckle to open position.

The operating bar is connected at one end with the bell crank lever 7, through the medium of a slotted opening 8 in the end of bar 6, thus providing for a limited movement of the operating bar independent of the bell crank lever. This operating bar 6 t9 is connected at its other or outer end with a hand operating lever 9 at a point between the upper and lower extremities of the latter. rlhe upper end of the hand operating lever is pivotallysecured to the car body or some part thereof as may be convenient, and the lower end is free and intended to be grasped by the operator. The normal position of this hand operating lever is vertical, or approximately so, and retained nor- 5@ mally in that position by gravity, its weight being sutlieient to restore it to its normal vertical position as soon as released by the operator. The operation is as follows:

If the coupler is in a locked position as in Fig. 1, and operator desires to raise the locking block 10 to unlock the knuckle, it is accomplished by grasping the lower end of the hand operating lever and pulling it outward toward the side of the car or away from the center of the car, the operating bar transmitting the motion to the bell crank lever 7 and the bell crank lever in turn e111 gaging the locking block and elevating the same to its lock set position as shown in Fig. 2.

lf no further operation is required the operator releases his hold from the hand operating lever and gravity returns the `hand operating lever to its normal orfvertical position.

if, however, the operator desires now` to throw the knuckle into an open position, by grasping the hand operating lever 9 and pushing it away from him, toward the center of the car, the operating bar 6 will be 75 moved in the same direction, the inner end passing through the opening 11 in the side wall of the coupler head 12 and bearing against the back of the knuckle tail 13 so that a continued movement by the operator 8U' forces the knuckle into an open position as shown in Fig. 3.

llVith the devices heretofore used unless the operator returned the operating bar to its normal position it would remain with its inner end projecting into the draw-head, and if the knuckle were then closed by impact, as in the act of coupling two cars together, this operating bar would be returned with more or less violence, depending upon the velocity with which the opposing couplers came into engagement. But with the above described arrangement, after the knuckle has been thrown into its open position, the hand operating lever acting by gravity will again return with the operating bar to its normal position, so that if the knuckle of the coupler be closed violently, the operating bar will not be affected, and the possibility of damage to the operating mechanism and possible injury to the operator is therefore obviated.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 the operating bar is pivotally connected at 14a to the bell crank lever 7a which is pivoted at 15 to the coupling head. The opposite end of the bell crank lever rests under the locking block and in a position to engage and lift the same when the hand lever 9 is moved outwardly toward the side of the car, and in Fig. 5, the bell crank lever 7* is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 16, its lower end being in a position to engage the locking block for lifting the same and its upper end being connected to the operating bar 6. In both of these constructions the Weight of the hand and bell crank levers operate to automatically restore the hand lever to its normal position as soon as released.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent7 is:

'L/In a car coupler, the combination of a Vdraw-head having an opening in the side Vand intermediate its ends with the operating bar, all adapted to unlock the coupler and throw the knuckle positively to an open position and to be returned by gravity to a normal position when released by operator.

2. In a car coupler, the combination of a draw-head having an opening in the side thereof, a knuckle, a lock for the latter, a bell crank lever, one end of Which is adapted to engage the lock and move same to unlocking position, an operating bar slidably connected with the upper end of the bell crank lever and adapted to pass through the opening in the side of the draw-head and an operating lever pivotally connected at its upper end with the car body and intermediate its ends with the operating bar, all adapted to unlock the coupler and throw the knuckle positively to an open position and to be returned by gravity to a normal position when releasedA by operator` 53. In a car coupler, the combination of a draw head, a knuckle, a vertically movable lock for the latter, a bell crank lever one end of which is adapted to engage the lock formoving the latter upwardly to unlocking position, an operating bar having connection withl the other end of said bell crank lever, and an operating lever pivotally connected at its upper end tothe car body and normally free to swing laterally and having pivotal connection intermediate its ends With the operating bar, all adapted to unlock the coupler and be returned by gravity r to normal position when released by the operator.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specificationy in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

SAlWUEL l?. BUSH. IVitnesses:

GEO. M. MURPHY, C. A. KELLEY.

Copies of thisl patent maybe obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). C. 

